Cognitive Sciences of Skepticism

The application of cognitive science—psychology, neuroscience, cognitive anthropology—to understand the cognitive processes underlying skeptical attitudes and practices. It investigates how people evaluate evidence, how they distinguish credible from incredible claims, how cognitive biases shape skeptical or credulous tendencies, and how skepticism is learned and deployed. It also explores the neural correlates of doubt and the developmental trajectory of skeptical thinking.

Example: “Cognitive sciences of skepticism research found that self‑identified skeptics, like believers, showed confirmation bias—they were quicker to spot flaws in arguments they disagreed with than in arguments they favored.”

by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal March 24, 2026

Studies of Scientific Skepticism

A field that critically examines the social movement and intellectual tradition of scientific skepticism—its origins, its leaders, its blind spots, and its practices. It asks why skepticism is often directed more at marginalized beliefs (spirituality, alternative medicine) than at corporate power, military technology, or mainstream economics. Studies of scientific skepticism also examine how skeptical communities police their boundaries, and how “skepticism” can become a performance of superiority rather than genuine inquiry.

Example: “Studies of scientific skepticism showed that the movement spent far more resources debunking homeopathy than questioning the pharmaceutical industry’s influence on medicine—a selective skepticism that served institutional power.”

by Dumu The Void March 30, 2026

Hard Problem of Skepticism

The infinite regress of doubt. Philosophical skepticism questions the reliability of all knowledge claims—senses, memory, reason. The hard problem is that this doubt must eventually apply to skepticism itself. If you doubt everything, on what foundation do you stand to announce your doubt? The skeptical argument is a tool that, when used universally, saws off the branch it's sitting on. This leads to the paralysis of aporia (a state of perpetual questioning with no answers) or a pragmatic, unprincipled exception where you arbitrarily stop doubting just to function, thereby abandoning the very rigor that defined skepticism.

Example: A radical skeptic says, "I can't trust my senses; I might be a brain in a vat." You ask, "Then how do you know the concept of a 'brain in a vat' is valid? How do you know logic itself is reliable?" They must use their untrustworthy reasoning to justify their doubt about reasoning. The hard problem: Pure skepticism is a mental black hole—it consumes every proposition, including the proposition that propositions should be consumed. To live, the skeptic must quietly assume the world is roughly as it seems, making their skepticism a theatrical performance for intellectual circles, not a livable philosophy. Hard Problem of Skepticism.

by Enkigal January 24, 2026

Septic Nark

When getting your septic pumped, the man finds multiple condoms floating at the top of the shit and says something about it (a result of young boys flushing their condoms down the toilet trying to be sneaky)

"Man, thought it was a good idea to flush the connies down the toilet so no one would find them, but that Septic Nark found them floatin there and got me totaly busted."

by Peter Grandview April 1, 2008

Septicoty

A name given, and widely used among Grosse Ile and the Downriver Area as a remark to establish a higher class, or to show inferiority in a rank among a group of assosiates

Loser friend: Hey, sorry I'm late I was gonna leave earlier, but I had some bad allergies so my mom took me to get allergy medicine, and when I was walking out the door I fell and scraped my knee, and I finally got home and got on my bike to ride to your house but I ran into a bunch of bugs and they got in my eyes and hair
Cool Friend: You're such a septicoty

by maxscene and briguy September 15, 2009

skeptibility

(1) Level of incredulity appropriate to evaluating a claim despite its verisimilitude.

(2) An amalgamation of susceptibility and skepticism.

For example:

(1) On Wikipedia, increased activity in the discussions and frequent revisions should raise skeptibility.

(2) Dude, ever notice how bananas fit your hand perfectly? That means they were created for you!

Bro, you have no skeptibility, google "Origin of species - Science Fail"

by c0ncernedcitizen December 9, 2011

Septic Kiss

When solid output into the toilet is ongoing, you flush while still seated to "clear things up." The toilet clogs (unbeknownst to you!); the water rises up and kisses your ______.

"Honey, you just took a shower...why are you in there again?"

"Oh my GOD! I got Septic Kissed!"

by Elk e summer September 20, 2011